Judge R.
S. Calder and B. C. Franklin report the victory at San Jacinto to President Burnet at
Galveston. (From History of the Island and the City of Galveston by
Charles W. Hayes 1879)

Judge Calder, in transmitting this manuscript,
writes as follows:

Richmond, Texas, May 31, 1877
Honorable J.S. Sullivan, Galveston, Texas:
Dear Friend: Enclosed I send you the manuscript, written mainly by your solicitation, and
copied by my son Sam. It is yours, and the gentleman's who asked me to write, to punctuate
and do anything with you please, except to change or alter the facts and incidents stated.
These, though stated from memory, are strictly correct. But for the infirmities of age and
natural indolence I might have added to it, and may, if my life is prolonged a few years
write out some of the incidents in our civil history. * * * * * * *
Truly and fraternally yours, R. S. CALDER.

The battle of San Jacinto was fought and won on the evening of the 21st
of April, 1836. I do not care in connection with this article to go into details which
have often been described. Perhaps a few items in connection with the closing scenes of
that event may be of interest. Benjamin R. Bingham, a Sergeant in Company K, and a
bosom friend and messmate of the writer, was reported by some members of the company as
wounded and left on the field. His messmate, the writer and Charles and W.T. Rees started
to find him. In searching the camp of the enemy, and looking about the officers' quarters
for something to eat, being very hungry having eaten little or nothing during the day, we
came upon four blankets and other articles, evidently belonging to the officers of Santa
Anna's army.

Supposing they might contain bread, we quartered on one, but in the
attempt to raise it, we discovered by its weight and its jingle that it was money. We
immediately communicated this to Colonel Hockley, who was riding over the field at the
distance of some five hundred yards. He desired us to keep it under guard until he could
place a detachment of Captain A. Turner's regulars over it, which was speedily done. In
the meantime another party had found the corpse of our dear messmate and conveyed it into
camp.

Very soon after dark, Deaf Smith rode up to the quarters of Company K
on Vince's black stallion, that Santa Anna had escaped from the, battle field on. The
horse was covered with mud, and showed he had received rough usage. The gallant old scout
said Well, boys, I have got the horse out of the bog, at Vince's bayou and you may be sure
the rider is not far off. Our brave old Colonel, Edward Burleson, came along in a
few minutes and said: Boys, we must have Santa Anna, and in order to secure his capture,
we want one hundred volunteers, mounted to stretch a cordon or line from the head of
Vince's Bayou to the main timbers on the San Jacinto.

The Captain spoke for the company: "Here we are, Colonel; take the
whole or any portion you may desire." He said: "No, we will only ask you for
twenty-five men from this company; let them catch any horses they can find."
Night had already set in, but such was the eagerness to go, that in a few minutes the
required detail was in motion. The next morning the detail returned to camp. I was soon
after detailed with the effective men of my company and a small detachment of Captain
Fisher's company, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Millard, to scour the left bank
of the bayou, and render an account of some sixty of the enemy's cavalry, that were said
to have crossed over, and had not been in the action of the day before.

With a flat-boat accompanying us, we marched down the right bank,
between the lake near which the battle was fought and the bayou, occasionally sending out
a scout to the left bank, to look for cavalry signs, but none were found, and the report
turned out to be idle rumor. We, however, picked up twenty-eight stragglers between the
bayou and the lake on the right bank, the most of them wounded. Though badly frightened,
none, with but one exception, were hurt by us on that occasion; the wounded were placed in
a flat-boat and returned to camp. The exception was an aged; grayheaded old man. He had a
slight wound in the head, received when escaping the day before across the lake from our
riflemen. He, with all the rest, was suffering intensely from thirst, and had crouched in
the west side of a thicket.

Our detachment was passing on the east. When abreast of the thicket, a
gun was fired on the opposite side. Being at the head of the detachment, I rushed around,
supposing that all the men were in line behind me. On reaching the opposite, I witnessed a
revolting sight. The aged Mexican already described was endeavoring to hold up the wounded
and broken stumps of his arms, and imploring for mercy. He was down in the grass. Near him
was a stalwart individual of the detachment from Fisher's company, who had concluded to
move in a company by himself, and had taken the opposite side of the thicket from the
command, and had fired into the helpless old man, with his hands uplifted and begging in
his jargon for mercy. He shot him in both arms, between the wrists and elbows. I will only
say that the indignation of myself and men under my command was such that the perpetrator
of the act left without ceremony---not a moment too soon for his own safety. I mention
this incident to show the spirit of our people. With all the provocations we had to
retaliate on our foes, the unprecedented slaughter of tile day before had satiated all the
noble spirits of our little army. Our foes were either dead or pleading for that mercy
they no doubt felt they had no right to expect.

On returning with our Captain, after a tramp of seven or eight miles
down the bayou, going and returning, we were met about half a mile from camp by Adjutant
Wells, who waved his hat around his head and said: "Boys, we have caught the big dog
of the tanyard. Santa Anna is in camp and our prisoner." Of course we set up the
usual Texas yell, and hurried into camp to get a sight of the President of Mexico and the
Commander-in-Chief of her armies. The scene there presented will never be effaced from my
memory, and I've often wondered that no artist has put it on canvas.

When I arrived on the ground where the captive was present with his
interpreter and Almonte, on the one side; our Commander, Houston, lying at the foot
opposite General Rusk, chief spokesman; Burleson, Sherman, and the field and staff
officers of our little army, surrounded by a sea of heads that were kept out of the circle
by the guard.

************************************************

On the morning after Santa Anna was
captured, my friend and messmate, Benjamin C. Franklin, was detailed by the Secretary of
War, T. J. Rusk, from my company to carry the dispatches to President David G. Burnet, at Galveston. Major Franklin, who was a
private in my company and intimate friend always, remarked to me:

"The families, I am certain, have not left Galveston; everything
is accomplished here; get a furlough and go with me to Galveston, and you see ----,"
(a certain young lady in whom he knew I had a strong interest). Nothing loth, I easily
obtained the five days' furlough. Two other individuals, Captain Bob Moore and another
man, whose name I have forgotton---both privates in other companies interceded with me to
get them furloughs to go with us, saying they would work the boat. As Franklin and myself
were not accustomed to such labor, the furloughs were obtained and we started. Our
supplies had been left at Harrisburg on our march to Lynch's Ferry, and we had no stores
to take with us, but in our eager desire to get off with our tidings, we concluded to
trust to chance to get our provisions.

We started about ten o'clock on the morning of the aid of April, in a
small skiff, and ran down to Ruth's. I do not recollect how far this was below the
battle-ground. We asked for something to eat. Ruth declared that he had been cleaned out
by the Mexicans and his own negroes, who had gone over to the enemy. We got nothing, and
left in a very bad and sullen humor; got to Spillman's Island (I believe I have given the
name correctly), about sundown; place deserted; but oh, the memory of that feast to four
hungry men will always be fresh in my memory. There were two barrels of fresh corn meal.
The China trees were occupied by domestic fowls of all ages, and no prying or inquisitive
owners of either sex about to restrain us in the indulgence of our appetites. If my memory
serves me, I think that seven well-grown fowls were sacrificed during our stay. I
recollect no further adventure until we reached the open bay. We had already discovered
our little skiff was a leaky concern, and by no means calculated to buffet the waves
against a hard wind in running to Galveston Island. What was to be done? It was proposed
by our assistants, who had taken upon themselves the labor of working the boat, that we
should lie up until a change of wind made it practicable to cross the bay from the mouth
of Buffalo Bayou to the island direct. This met with no favor from Franklin or myself: We
were determined to let no opportunity pass to convey the first news of the great event
which had transpired, of which we were the duly authorized heralds.

We therefore determined to coast it around the bay until the wind
changed; or until we arrived at a point where the narrowness of the bay would enable us to
venture across. In order to do this, with an old leaky skiff, it was necessary that one
man should take the rope, or painter, to the skiff and wade along the beach, and one
should sit in the stern and direct its course, so as to keep it from stranding. This plan
was adopted, but our companions, who had volunteered their services for working the little
craft, demurred to this, and the labor fell to Franklin and myself. I can scarcely blame
these men now. They looked upon it as a work of supererogation. To Franklin and myself the
motive was to carry the glad tidings to the families who had fled from the butcher of the
Alamo and Goliad that the arch enemy was in our power; that they were free to return to
their homes, and that the power of the despot, so far as Texas was concerned, was forever
broken. Was this not a glorious incentive to exertion? We thought so.

We started on our laborious trip, and had not made more than three or
four miles, when we discovered the steamer Laura (I think it was), making for the
bayou from Galveston. We made all the signals that our situation allowed to attract the
attention of those on the boat, but in vain. She took the extreme eastern route. Whether
she did not see our signals, or considered the western shore dangerous, we never
ascertained. She soon passed out of sight going up the bayou. We next reached Red Fish
Bar, as it was called, the residence of the Edwards family. The only human being found,
and he was hiding, was an African, who neither spoke nor understood our language. He was
very shy. I think we managed to get something to eat, and prying about the premises we
secured a few fine cigars, but there was solemn silence in all the region for miles
around, telling the tales of flight, stampede and panic.

Our laborious travel was continued, according to my recollection, for
more than two days from the time of leaving the mouth of the bayou until we arrived at a
point where we could see the shore of the island opposite. This was just after sunset on
the fourth day. Tired, hungry and rather morose, we drew our skiff upon the beach, which
was clear for some twenty yards. At the line where vegetation commenced, an immense
cottonwood tree had lodged, and was imbedded in the soil. Throwing our blankets on the
ground beside the log, we were ready to rest our weary limbs; but just as we threw
ourselves down, a sound that is apt to startle a backwoodsman saluted us. It was a very
spirited rattle from a snake on the opposite side of the log, where the thick weeds and
grass were growing. It was already nearly dark, so we concluded to suspend hostilities
against our disagreeable neighbor until morning. In the morning he had disappeared. During
the night it had rained on us, although we knew it not until morning. The wind was from
the north, and we were chilled. Having nothing to eat, we pushed off in our boat for the
opposite shore of the island. The rowing necessary to carry us over was grateful, as the
labor warmed us.

Before nine o'clock we had sighted a vessel ahead, near the island. We
made for it. It proved to be one of our war vessels, commanded by Captain William Brown,
with whom we were well acquainted. Long before we reached the vessel, Captain Brown, by
the aid of his glass, had identified us, and commenced hailing through his speaking
trumpet, which we were unable to answer intelligibly until we ran alongside. As we passed
up the side of the vessel and communicated our tidings, Brown took off, his hat, and
waving it around his head, threw it into the sea, and sang out to his crew, "turn
loose Long Tom" (eighteen pounder pivot gun). After three rounds, he suddenly
exclaimed, "stop firing, or old Hawkins, the Commodore, will put me in irons
again." The excitement on the vessel was only the forerunner of what we were to
witness. When we advanced up the bay to the other shipping, about five miles east,
although hungry, and tendered all the hospitalities of the ship, we could not afford to
stop to appease the demands of our nature, as the steamboat which had gone up the bayou
might return before we reached the President and the families who were encamped near his
quarters. We imbibed enough of first rate whisky to have felt the effects very sensibly if
we had been under less excitement, or had our determination been less to carry out our
mission as the heralds of victory.

Captain Brown, with a contemptuous kick sent our frail skiff afloat on
the sea, and declared that no persons who were the bearer of such tidings as we had to
communicate should work their passage further. His gig was manned by four or six stout
seamen, and we started eastward to the Island. Post Galveston, the President's
headquarters, and the refugees from Mexican rapacity, were encamped on the eastern
extremity of the island, while the principal shipping was at anchor in the channel
opposite. Coming in view of the vessels, we beheld the effects of the firing of Brown's
guns. The rigging and yardarms were discovered to be crowded with eager spectators, all of
course anxiously awaiting the news in which all had a vital interest. Had our little army,
which, at last accounts, was in full retreat for the Lord-knows-where, been overwhelmed
and captured, and the last hope for Texas for years been extinguished, or had it obtained
a victory over the bloodly and boastful foe? This, we may suppose, were the speculations
of our refugees on Galveston Island, and those fleeing beyond the Trinity. Their wildest
hopes, we were about to tell them, were more than realized. One of the grand old mothers
of Texas, after forty years, told the writer that after many, hardships, herself and
family had reached the island the night before we reached the island with the news, she
was lying in her tent with twins, of twenty-four hours. On the night when the norther blew
up, her tent was blown off, and all the exertions of her husband and family were brought
into requisition to protect her and her infants from fatal exposure. On our arrival the
next day, when the rejoicing, and above all, the firing, commenced, her husband tenderly
wishing to screen her from the excitement-fearing its effects might be detrimental she
begged him to tell her the news; that having passed through the fatigues and hardships
thus far, she wished to know the best or worse.

As we approached the shipping and the encampment, the excitement was
intense. Commodore Hawkins, Captain Moore, Franklin and myself, were well acquainted, and
of course recognized by the Commodore through his glass long before we were in, hailing
distance, and when we were alongside of the Commodore's vessel, we were almost lifted on
board, and while we were reciting our story, we were invited into the cabin, and asked to
partake of what we much needed, viz: a breakfast, supper and dinner, the two last over
due, and of course very gratefully accepted. We were what we expected to be the heroes of
the hour bringing intelligence grateful to the hundreds on the shipping and on the island,
telling then that their deserted homes were free, and that no foe stood between them and
their hearthstones. We had accomplished our mission, and had forestalled the steamboat,
which arrived the next day. That was a greater gratification to us than all the glory of
the campaign.

While we were at breakfast, dinner and supper, as above described,
Commodore Hawkins had fired a salute of thirteen guns, and had gone ashore to communicate
with the people and with the President. Returning soon, he whispered to us that, although
he did not wish to check his hospitality, he would advise us as soon as we had satisfied
our appetites, that it would be well for us to go on shore and deliver our dispatches to
the President. We started at once, the Commodore acting as our escort. We reached the
President's quarters through an anxious and excited crowd. The quarters may have been in
some sort of wooden shanty, but my impression is that it was only a tent, and if there was
a house on the island where now stands the stately and beautiful city of Galveston, I fail
to remember it.

On reaching the President's quarters, we were received by him, and as I
thought at the moment, in rather a cold and distrait manner for the occasion, seeing we
had brought intelligence that I set the captives free, and authorized their return to
their native island: We were, however, courteously though coolly treated, and invited by
the President to partake of a glass of excellent brandy, which we accepted,
notwithstanding we had yielded to several previous solicitations of the same character.
After leaving the President, our friend and conductor, Commodore Hawkins, informed us that
when he first went ashore the wildest excitement prevailed on the beach, up to the
President's quarters. That when he reached there, the President inquired the cause of the
commotion. The Commodore informed him of our arrival and mission. The President rejoined,
"why did they not report to me immediately? I wish that the Secretary of War, Colonel
Rusk, or General Houston, the next time they have important reports to make, would select
agents who understand and will discharge their duty. I have a mind to arrest the bearers
of the dispatches." Commodore Hawkins, with all the suavity of his nature, and his
knowledge of our duty, which we had no doubt violated, said, "no, Mr. President, let
me offer an apology for these gentlemen, who are my personal friends, and who, through
much fatigue and hardships, brought these tidings to us. They were without regular food
for twenty-four hours when they reached my ship. I, without thinking of the irregularity,
fed them, and left them enjoying their first regular meal since they left their camp, five
days ago. Knowing both the gentlemen who are the bearers of dispatches to you, I could do
no less than feed them, and believing implicitly in their news, I had the thirteen guns
fired. I pray you to excuse both them and myself for being carried beyond the bounds of
etiquette and official courtesy on this occasion."

The kind old President soon got over our neglect of duty, in view of
the energy we had shown, the difficulties we had overcome in carrying the welcome
intelligence. I have said that the excitement was intense; rumors had gone out
foreshadowing the news, but the intelligence was so overwhelming that many regarded it as
bogus, and messengers as imposters, until the proclamation of the President was issued in
due form. The result, as stated by us, was too great The capture of Santa Anna was in
itself a great event, but the capture of the entire army was a little more than the
denizens of Galveston Island at that time were willing to admit as reliable information.

Bear in mind at that time there were no telegraph wires; that the
bearer of these dispatches were strangers to all except a few persons, among whom were the
President (Burnet), Hawkins, Brown, and some of the families from the bayous. A large
portion of the refugees were from Trinity or the western frontiers, who had fled for their
lives from the anticipated capture by Santa Anna and his forces. Nothing had prevented the
departure for New Orleans of the Flash and other merchant vessels, on the morning
of our advent with the news, but adverse winds and tide.

As an evidence of the doubts and perplexities of the refugees on that
occasion, I will state an incident: Either on the day of our arrival or the next, Franklin
and myself had delivered our dispatches, we had seen and conversed with our intimate
friends, and the writer had seen his sweetheart, and feeling a great desire to take some
exercise, free and untrammeled by duty of any kind, he took a stroll along the bay shore,
where excited squads of from ten to twenty were scattered from the President's quarters to
the east end of the island. In passing along by these squads, the writer, who was a
stranger to these campers, and I not being known to them as one of the bearers of
dispatches, could not help hearing the excited comments upon the news that had come to the
island. In passing one of these groups, an excited and very demonstrative individual
stepped out from his squad and said, "men, those fellows that have brought these
exaggerated stories are deserters, and are running away from the army. What! to tell me
that the whole Mexican army has been captured, with Santa Anna, the President of Mexico,
and all his staff are prisoners, with only a loss to our army of six or eight men? I am
not green enough to believe it. They are deserters and imposters, and ought to be dealt
with as such." The doubt was a natural one, and I never halted or enlightened the
speaker.

Another episode connected with the occasion and I have done: On the day
of our arrival at the island, or the next morning, while my companion, Franklin, and
myself were strolling about the quarters on the island, a great excitement arose, which we
soon ascertained had been communicated from the shipping, to the effect that from the
masthead of some of the vessels in the bay a force of one thousand Mexican cavalry had
been discovered, advancing from the west end of the island. In a moment there was the
wildest excitement, women and children, and some men, fleeing from the beach to the
vessels; the commandant of the post, Colonel James Morgan, riding at a furious speed to
and fro, calling out, "Turn out, men; turn out, or we'll be in hell in five
minutes!" The men mounted were riding furiously toward the west end to reconnoitre
the enemy. Panics, such as that above described, are always unreasoning, and the stoutest
hearts are sometimes affected by them. Although we knew the overwhelming defeat that had
come upon the army of Santa Anna, and the orders that had been sent to his subalterns to
retire from the country, yet when my companion, Franklin, and myself held a consultation,
I remarked to him: "Franklin, had we not better make a show of preparation? All the
island is in arms, and although we know the alarm is false, would it not look better for
us old soldiers to show our training?"

Franklin scouted the idea, but we were approaching the headquarters of
Colonel Harcourt, who had been appointed to the command of some earthworks on the island,
and who was a tried and an accomplished soldier of education in the armies of Europe, who
had thrown his sword and valuable services into the scale of our contest with Mexico. He
was our intimate personal friend. He said, "I will give you employment as
volunteers," at the same time handing us muskets. We sat down at the little fort,
awaiting events. Colonel Harcourt, having as little faith in the reports which caused such
a panic as Franklin and myself. In the course of two or three hours, after many fast
couriers had galloped toward the west end, at length some cool heads, who had been the
length of the island, reported that no hostile cavalry were to be seen, but that the
families encamped some miles west of the President's quarters had had a big washing day,
and had hung out quilts, blankets, clothing, etc., to dry, and they supposed that this had
given rise to the excitement, and so it ended.

I believe the incidents as above narrated occurred at the President's
quarters, and those of the refugees encamped where the beautiful and splendid city of
Galveston now stands. Of this, however, I am not certain, as years elapsed after the above
events transpired before I visited it again. I found a city where was almost a naked
prairie. Others can correct my statement of the locality if I am wrong.
[History of the Island and the City of Galveston by Charles W. Hayes 1879 was not published until
1974. David Pomeroy points out that according to Jenkins Books of Texas, the
original proof was typeset, but the typeset was destroyed by fire. A revised proof
was not published until 1974 as Hayes, Charles W. History of the Island and
the City of Galveston, vol. 1, 2. Cincinnati, OH, 1879 (Jenkins Garrett Press, Austin, TX,
1974)]

Commissary-General John
Forbes. And I the said John Forbes under oath maketh the following
statement of the capture of General Santa Anna and of his introduction to General Houston,
as follows:

Some two days after the Battle of San Jacinto and in the morning at
early sunrise I was attending to some duties close by the guard fire, where the Mexican
prisoners were under guard I noticed two men approaching me from the prairie skirting
Buffalo Bayou, as they came up to where I was standing. One of the men was a very youthful
soldier with his gun on his shoulder, belonging to Captain Bakers company. I
think his name was Joel Robertson [Robison],
the other man was a Mexican in undress and unarmed, the young soldier stated that as he
was coming into camp, the Mexican threw himself in his way, and requested to be taken to
General Houston. The Mexican then quickly addressed me in Spanish, which rendered
into English meant, "Sir General Houston," intimating a desire to see the
General and took from somewhere about his person a letter which he handed to me, pressing
his finger on its address, which read Don Lopez de Santa Anna etc. I returned the
letter to him and asked him if he was General Santa Anna, he replied affirmatively and
again repeated "Sir General Houston" with emphasis, at that moment I was joined
by Col. George W. Hockley whom I told who the prisoner was, and that we would take him
before General Houston, at that same time we heard from the Mexican prisoners at the guard
fire an exclamation of "El Presidente! El Presidente!" The prisoner placed
between Col. Hockley and myself, our young Texian soldier in the rear passed through Col.
Burlesons quarters at the head of which General Houstons tent was pitched.
On our arrival we found the General outside of his tent stretched on a mattress at
the foot of a large tree apparently asleep, resting on his left side and his back towards
us. We ranged up alongside and I put my hand on his arm to arouse him, he raised himself
on his elbow and looked up. The prisoner immediately addressed him telling him who
he was and surrendering himself to him a prisoner of war. General Houston looked at him
intensely, but made no reply, turning to me requested me to proceed to the guard fire and
bring from thence before him, a young man who was reported to be the private secretary of
Santa Anna and who could talk English fluently. I did so, and on my return found the
prisoner seated quietly in a chair beside the General's mattress. The young man on seeing
the prisoner assured General Houston that the prisoner then before him was truly General
Santa Anna. General Houston wanting additional evidence sent me again to the guard
fire to bring General Almonte before him. In bringing down General Almonte, I met with
General Thomas J. Rusk and Lieut. Zavala to whom I mentioned what was taking place before
General Houston. They accompanied me with General Almonte to where General Houston was
when the prisoner was fully recognized and identified. Throughout the whole, General
Santa Annas demeanor was dignified and soldierlike but a close observer could trace
a shade of sadness on his otherwise impassive countenance. Slightly edited for
spelling and punctuation from a document in the Texas Archives--WLM

Lyman Frank Rounds(From
a pension application in the Texas State Archives, slightly edited for spelling and
punctuation). I joined the Texan Army on the 1st of January 1836 at San
Augustine under Lieut. Stansbury Recruiting Officer at that place, I was made Sargent from
enlistment, a few days after enlisting General Houston and Capt. Henry Teal came to the
rendezvous. They wished me to join Capt. Teals Company at Nacogdoches, which I did, in
March we left there to reinforce Col. Travis at the Alamo, but while Capt. Teal and myself
was standing in the hall of the convention then sitting at Washington on the Brazos when a
courier arrived with the news that Travis and his whole party had been captured and cut to
pieces. We then marched and joined Houston on the Colorado, General Sesma at this
time being on the opposite side of the river three miles from us with 3000 Mexican troops,
from here we fell back where San Felipe de Austin had stood, turned up the Brazos and
encamped in a cane brake opposite Groces plantation, where we lay about two weeks.
Then we moved across the river on the Steamer Yellow Stone, proceeded to Buffalo
Bayou opposite to where Harrisburg had stood. While here Deaf Smith captured a
Mexican courier giving us the information that Santa Anna was not far from us, on the 18th
of April Capt. Teal was taken sick with the measles, Capt. Andrew Briscoe was assigned to
A Company (the one I belonged to) until Capt. Teals recovery the night of the 19th.
We crossed the Bayou some little distance below camp on rafts, on the morning of the 20th
took up our advance guards of us and Santa Annas column, we advanced, crossed the
bridge on Vinces Bayou when General Houston ordered the bridge destroyed, we kept the road
towards Lynch's Ferry, and when the head of Houstons column reached the ferry, Santa
Annas forces came in sight in our rear, Houston fell back about a mile on the banks
of Buffalo Bayou sheltered by a crowning piece of timberland. We lay here until
about 4 o'clock P.M. 21st of April when we formed to make the attack. Now, although
an admirer of General Houston, I think he made a rather unmilitary movement in making the
attack. We formed in double file, marched at a right angle on the enemies left until
within musket range, filed to right by flank, so that our Co A had to march the entire
length of the Mexicans line under fire, before we could face to the front and return their
fire, but nevertheless, in twenty minutes we had them on the run and before sundown we
stretched eight hundred of them on the field never to rise again on the 22, as I was
returning from the battlefield to camp I was presented with a 2d Lieutenant commission by
Thomas J. Rusk, then Secretary of War.

James Tarleton letter to brothers in
Kentucky from Lynchburg near San Jacinto, 22 Apr 1836 & recollections on the capture
of Santa Anna.

TEXAS. We take pleasure in laying before the
public the following letter from our estimable fellow citizen Capt. Tarleton, who, is
commander of the company of Texian volunteers, that went first from this place. The very
high estimation, in which Captain Tarleton is held in this community as a brave soldier
and an honorable man, will cause his letter to be read with deep interest.

Lynchburgh, Texas, April 22, 1836. My dear Brothers,- My last letter to
you, dated at San Felipe De Austin, was couched in rather gloomy language, I had then a
sad tale to tell you. Now, and thank my God for it, I can tell you another and a very
different story. The retribution, called for by my butchered friends at Goliad, has not
been invoked in vain. The arch fiend Santa Anna is now in our camp with several of his
principle officers, a prisoner at our discretion, and his choice and veteran troops lie in
hundreds scattered over the prairie, in which a battle, the parallel to which perhaps
cannot be found in the annals of civilized warfare, was yesterday fought. Our army under
the command of General Samuel Houston became tired of retreating, and expressed great
anxiety to be led to meet the enemy at once to decide the fate of Texas. Accordingly, on
the 14th inst., Gen. H. took up the line of march for this place, situated at the junction
of the San Jacinto river and the Bayou Buffalo. The two streams form what is called the
San Jacinto Bay, on the east side of which, by looking at the map of this country, you
will see Lynchburgh, or rather Lynch's ferry, for in reality there is no town or village
to be seen, and, on the west, there is a most beautiful prairie, handsomely variegated
with small groves of timber. At about 10 o'clock, the morning of the 20th, we pitched our
camp in the edge of the timber on the S. E. side of Buffalo Bayou with the intention of
breakfasting, having first dispersed a small party of the enemy, that we found in the
neighborhood. Before we had breakfasted, it was announced that the enemy in force was in
sight. Our little band of heroes was instantly formed in the best position the ground
enabled us to take, when we anxiously awaited his arrival. At about half past eleven
o'clock, his near approach was confirmed by the report of his cannon and small arms, which
was instantly returned by us. This skirmishing continued for some time without any injury
to either side, when the Mexican troops were marched beyond the reach of our fire, and of
course, it ceased. At about 3 P.M. Col. Sherman, (with whom you are acquainted} of the 2d
Regiment of Volunteers, offered to head the cavalry for the purpose of bringing on a
general engagement and at once decided the contest. His offer was accepted, and about 63
men mounted their horses and proceeded to the neighborhood of the enemy's cavalry, which
they soon found already mounted, 68 in number backed by four companies of infantry 160
strong, and ready to receive our cavalry. The enemy had not long to wait. Col. Sherman,
with his characteristic bravery, gallantly led on his little squad of heroes to the
charge. The artillery and both regiments of foot, including the regulars, rushed with that
ardor, which the love of liberty so nobly and so naturally inspires, to the support of our
brave companions on horseback, but our commander-in-chief thought it expedient to order
them to return to camp. In this little affair we had none killed and only two or three
wounded, none dangerously. The enemy's loss has not been ascertained, but must have been
considerable. His Adjutant General was severely wounded, and is now lying in the adjoining
room to the one in which I indite this narrative.

The next day, that is yesterday, the 21st, at length arrived, and the
whole army expected, as soon as breakfast was over, to be led to the enemy's encampment,
which, by this time, had become considerably strengthened by having thrown up a
breast-work, and by the acquisition of a reinforcement of 500 men under the command of
General Cos, who, to gratify his master, had violated his parole of honor solemnly pledged
at San Antonio in December. At last, at half past three o'clock P. M. were ordered to
prepare for battle, which was soon done; and then commenced a conflict, the parallel of
which, I presume, cannot be found on record. To see a mere handful of raw undisciplined
volunteers, just taken from their ploughs and thrown together with rifles without bayonets
no two perhaps of the same calibre, and circled only by two pieces of artillery, 6
pounders, and a few musketeers some with and some without bayonets, and some 40 or 50 men
on horseback to meet the trained bands of the hero of so many victories -to see them, with
trailed arms, marching to within some 60 or 70 yards of such an army at least doublt in
number entrenched too behind a breast-work impregnable to small arms and protected by a
long brass 9 pounder to see them. I say do all this, fearless, and determined to save
their country and their country's liberty or to die in the effort was no ordinary
occurence. Yet such was their conduct and so irresistable was that Spartan phalanx, that
it was not more than from fifteen to twenty minutes from our first fire until a complete
rout of the enemy was effected; and such slaughter on the one side and such almost
miraculous preservation on the other have never been heard of since the invention of
gunpowder. The commencement of the attack was accompanied by the watch words,
"Remember the Alamo, Laborde and Tampico" at the very top of our voices, and, in
some ten minutes we were in the full possession of the enemy's encampment, cannon, all
things, else, whilst his veterans were in the greatest possible disorder, attempting by
flight to save their lives. I happened to be so placed in the regiment, to which I was
attached, that I was enabled to be the third men, who entered the entrenchment, which I
soon left in company with the balance of the regiment in pursuit of the defeated enemies
of the Texian liberty. I feel confident, that I do not exagerate, when I state their loss
in killed as nearly if not quite equal to the whole of our number engaged; whilst we had
only six killed on the spot and some twelve or fifteen wounded, two of whom have since
died, one of them Doctor Motley of Ky., a relative of Mr. Shapley Owen, who died to-night
and since I commenced writing this letter. The number of our prisoners has not yet been
officially announced, but I should suppose it to be nearly if not quite 600, many of whom
are wounded. So complete has been our triumph and their defeat, that my antipathy to them
has subsided, and I can now commiserate their condition.

If the people of Texas shall act wisely, the war is ended, and its
terrified inhabitants may return to peace and quietness to their homes, and yet make bread
sufficient for their support. Santa Anna has agreed to send all his troops home and to
deliver to us their arms, ammunition, money, and all other public property, and to
acknowledge our Independence and Separation from Mexico. He and his principal officers
will of course be held as hostages until the fulfilment of the treaty, and our army will
not be disbanded until Texas is safe, which I have no doubt will be in a few weeks, when I
shall return to Kentucky with the intention of making arrangements for permanently
settling in this country. I am told that General Houston has ordered the spoils of the
enemy to be divided equally among the captors, and, that he will use his influence in
attempting to prevail on Texas to allow, for this [there appears to be a page missing
from the manuscript at this point].

[The capture of Santa Anna]
When the Mexicans commenced retreating from their breastworks at San Jacinto on the
evening of the 21st of April, 1836, Santa Anna, General Cos and other officers of note
among them hastened to join forces at the old Fort Bend on the Brazos under Fillisola.
Santa Anna and his cavalry but four attempted their retreat by way of Vince's Bridge not
knowing that this bridge had been destroyed by Deaf Smith on the morning of that day.
About the time this retreat of the Mexicans was commenced, Captain Karnes called for all
those having loaded guns to follow him in the pursuit. The following are the names of all
I can recollect of those who responded to Karnes's call, namely, James Cook, Washington
Secrest, Field Secrest, Deaf Smith, Shell Tunage, Thomas Robinson, John Robinson, Elisha
Clapp, Thomas House, W. T. C. Pierce. These eleven are all dead, to my certain knowledge.
I also recollected Dr. Alsbury and a man who escaped from Fannin's massacre, but do not
know whether they are alive or not, as I have not seen them since the summer of 1836. I
was also of the number, making fourteen, with Captain Karnes. I think there were four more
making eighteen in all, but I do not recollect the names of these four. The distance to
Vince's bridge from the battle ground was about four miles over a very wet, muddy plain,
and, for about a quarter of a mile, knee-deep to our horses in mud and water. Two or three
miles from the battle ground, some three or four Mexicans struck off (leaving the balance)
in the open prairie in the direction of the head of Vince's Bayou. Elisha Clapp, having a
very fleet horse, started in pursuit of them and soon coming up with them fired his rifle,
killing one of them. The others, seeing that his rifle was discharged, turned to give him
battle, when Clapp was compelled to retreat, but being able to cope with three Mexicans
with an empty gun. The one nearest to him discharged his escopete at him, but the ball
missed him, though judging from the whistling, Clapp afterwards told me he thought it
passed within six inches of his head. But he returned to us unhurt. We continued our
pursuit to Vince's Bridge, the three Mexicans as I afterwards learned making good their
escape to Fillisola's army on the Brazos, where they reported to him that Houston's army
with 4,000 strong and that Santa Anna and all the army was either killed or taken
prisoners. While pursuing the Mexicans on the road to Vince's bridge, we overtook numbers,
their horses being too tired to enable them to escape; and as we overtook them, we felt
compelled to kill them and did so, though on their knees crying for quarter and saying
"Me no Alamo - me no Bahia," meaning that they were not in either of those
horrible massacres. As there were but some fifteen or eighteen of us, and some sixty of
the Mexicans we were pursuing, besides Santa Anna, Cos and several other officers, we saw
it was impossible for us to take prisoners and we had but little disposition to do so,
knowing they had slaughtered so many of Fannin's men in cold blood and that they had
surrendered as prisoners of war under solemn treaty stipulations that they would be sent
safely to New Orleans. For about half the distance from the battle ground to Vince's
Bridge the road was strewed every few hundred yards with dead Mexicans, as we took no
prisoners in this pursuit. When we arrived within half or three-quarters of a mile of
Vince's Bridge, Capt. Karnes ordered those in advance to halt till the rear could come up,
stating that Santa Anna was, no doubt, with the other Mexicans and when they should reach
the bridge and find it destroyed, they could certainly make a fight as it would then be
their only alternative. We then followed in a body, prepared for and expecting a fight;
but when they reached the bridge and found it gone, they immediately scattered in all
directions, some going up and others down the bayou. When we discovered this, every man
put spurs to his horse, and started after them as fast as possible. When within 300 or 400
yards of the bridge we discovered Vince's large, black stallion with a fine-looking
officer on him dressed in uniform. Capt. Karnes, supposing it was Santa Anna himself (as
it was rumored that he was riding Vince's horse) made for him. When he came up to him on
the bank of the bayou, the officer dismounted and Karnes asked him if he was Santa Anna.
He replied that he was, supposing that quarter would be given Santa Anna. Whereupon Capt.
Karnes struck at him with his sword, hitting him a glancing blow on the head as he stood
on the bank of the bayou. When he discovered that no quarter would be shown to him he
jumped into the bayou saying at the same time that he was not Santa Anna. Whereupon some
pistols were discharged at him, killing him in the bayou. We then continued our pursuit up
and down the bayou, killing all we overtook, until we had killed all we could find. When
we came to the wreck of the bridge, the sun was near setting. Continuing our search, we
finally found four horses in a thicket, some few hundred yards above the bridge. We saw
that their riders had dismounted and crossed the bayou on foot, wading through the mud and
water, and had got into a much larger thicket on the opposite side. These four afterwards
proved to be Santa Anna, Cos, Santa Anna's secretary, and another officer whose name I do
not recollect. By this time it has become too dark to search the thicket for them that
night. Capt. Karnes then called on Dr. Alsbury who spoke the Spanish language, to call to
Santa Anna in the thicket (for he had no doubt that Santa Anna was one of them) and say to
him if he would come out and give himself up, we would take him a prisoner and spare his
life; for he had fears that he might get out of the thicket and escape during the night to
Fillisola's camp some 20 miles distant, as he had not men enough to guard the thicket
securely. Dr. Alsbury called out to him accordingly to come out and deliver himself up and
his life would be saved. But no reply was made; all was as still as if there had not been
a living soul in the thicket. Yet we were satisfied Santa Anna must be there. Capt. Karnes
then dispatched a runner to camp with the news that we had Santa Anna in a thicket near
Vince's Bridge and that we had not men enough to guard the thicket till morning, that more
men should be sent immediately to help us. Our force, then consisting of fourteen, was
disposed to the best advantage to guard the thicket; but the number not being sufficient
to surround it, we left the apace open on the side towards our camp, so that, should he
get out during the night, he would have to beat about in the direction of the battle
ground, where he would be least likely to escape. In this condition we remained on past
till daylight. But during the night Santa Anna crawled out rather in the direction of our
camp and the head of the bayou while Cos and another officer escaped in the direction of
the Brazos timber, as we learned from Santa Annals secretary, who remained in the timber
till morning and then gave himself up to Capt. Karnes. Through his interpreter, Dr.
Alsbury, the secretary informed Capt. Karnes that Santa Anna, Cos and the other officer
had been in the thicket, but had escaped as above stated. Capt. Karnes then dispatched a
runner to camp to give this intelligence and to say that Santa Anna was somewhere in the
prairie between Vince's Bridge and the camp, in the direction of the head of the bayou. On
the receipt of this information, as I afterwards learned, every man in camp that could
raise a horse or pack mule started in search of Santa Anna under command of Col. Burleson
and he was picked up during the day, April 22. When I reached camp, late in the evening of
the 22d I learned that the person or persons who captured Santa Anna and took him to camp
did not know or suspect who he was, as he was disguised in his dress. He was first made
known after his arrival at the camp by the Mexican prisoners calling his name on seeing
and recognizing him. In the Texas Almanac of 1859 I see that Joel W. Robison claims to
have taken Santa Anna. I was not previously acquainted with Mr. Robison, but, from his
statement of the whole affair, I have no hesitation in giving it as my opinion that Mr.
Robison's account is correct. I remember, on arriving at camp, hearing several of the
particulars stated by Mr. Robison, particularly about Santa Anna arriving in camp on a
horse behind his captor. The interesting account given by Mr. Robison may be seen on page
166 of the Texas Almanac for 1859. After Capt. Karnes had dispatched the runner, as above
stated, he took Deaf Smith and Washington Secrest and headed for the bayou in pursuit of
Cos and the other officers and overtook them just as they were entering the Brazos timber
and took them as prisoners to our camp. If my recollection is right, Capt. Karnes did not
get back to camp with his prisoners until the next day, April 23rd, about noon, but I will
not be positive as to the exact time. In conclusion, I would mention one incident that may
be worth recording. John Robbins - or Jack as we called him - after our arrival at Vince's
Bridge pursued two Mexicans some distance above the bridge and apart from the rest of us.
He was on foot with his rifle and fired, killing one of them. The other then seized
Robbins in his arms and, being much the stronger man, threw him to the ground, falling on
top of him. Robbins, while calling out for help succeeded in drawing his knife from the
belt and plunged it into the Mexican, and when some of our company came up to his relief
he was still lying under the Mexican who was then in the agonies of death from the effects
of the fatal wound by the knife. This closes the account of our pursuit of the Mexicans
from the battle field, after the Mexicans commenced their flight. It is strictly correct
in all its details and, if you think of interest to the readers of the Texas Almanac, you
are at liberty to place it in your columns.

sdct [This article from the Kemp Papers, Center for American
History, University of Texas and reprinted by the San Jacinto Museum of History, Houston,
Texas appears to be a letter home from Lynchburg soon after the battle and in the latter
part a later recollection prepared for the Texas Almanac on the caputre of General Santa
Anna]

Memoirs James Washington Winters. "I
was born in Giles County, Tennessee, January 21, 1817. I came to Texas from Memphis,
Tennessee, with my father and all his family. Mr. Bankhead and his family came with us. We
came through Arkansas on the Trammell's Trace. In Arkansas Mr. Geo. Lamb, who was on
horseback, joined us, and remained with us all the time, even after reaching Texas.
Bankhead never obtained any lands, but just rented. He was taken sick and died soon after
his arrival. Lamb eventually married Bankhead's widow. Father's family located in the
"Big Thicket" between the eastern and western prongs of the San Jacinto River.
When we heard of Cos' entry into Texas we were among the volunteers who started out to
repel him. When my father, my brothers and I reached San Felipe, on the Brazos, we heard
that Cos had already been whipped out of the state. We met Sam Houston, who told us to go
back home and make all the corn we could, for in the spring would come the clash. This was
late in the fall, about December 1835. I was then about eighteen years of age. On March
12, 1836, about eighteen of us organized a company on the San Bernard; we chose William
Ware Captain, Job Collard, First Lieutenant, George Lamb Second Lieutenant, Albert
Gallatin First Sergeant, William Winters Second Sergeant. We went to Deweese Crossing on
the Colorado with the intention of keeping the Mexicans from crossing. We acted
independently, without instructions from anyone. Houston, at Beason's on the Colorado,
sent orders for us to fall back. We did so, marching to the prairie between the Colorado
and the San Bernard. Here we joined Houston, our company by this time being composed of
from 100 to 200 men. From here we marched to San Felipe, thence to Groce's. I do not
remember seeing Mosely Baker; do not think he came to the army.

At Groce's the artillery was sent for two iron 6 pounders. We remained
in the bottom until they arrived. The steamer Yellowstone was in waiting and Houston
crossed his army on this. We camped on the other side and worked all night preparing
cartridges for the cannon. Early next morning we remained orders to commence a forced
march in the direction of Harrisburg. Our next camp was at Donohue's. Our march was
continued the following morning, and the next stop was at McCurley's. The weather was very
bad all the time. We now stopped in succession at Cypress Creek, at the head of a little
bayou, and opposite Harrisburg. A little after 12 a.m. Deaf Smith crossed over to the last
named place and captured Santa Anna's courier with valuable papers containing information
as to the route of the Mexican Army. We were then ordered forward with all the speed
possible that we might intercept Santa Anna at Lynch's ferry. I never heard any talk as to
Houston's not designing to fight; or of officers or men insisting on his taking the road
to Harrisburg; or of any one doubting his intention to do so. We went as straight as we
could go towards Harrisburg. Mrs. Mann did take her oxen from the ammunition wagon before
we got to camp at McCurley's. She needed them for herself. They had been pressed into
service by our wagon master. Mrs. Mann went after them herself and took them from the
wagon. The boys had a good joke on the wagon master, and they did not forget to use it.

The wagons were left at Harrisburg. I saw men pulling the cannon there.
There may have been horses there, but I don't remember seeing any. Rohrer was wagon
master. We crossed the bayou about two miles below Harrisburg, just below Sims' bayou. We
fixed up the old ferry boat with flooring from Mrs. Batterson's house and some new lumber
which we found there, and took over the cannon. It took all day to cross. We lost no time
after crossing in taking up our forced march, and never halted until late that night,
between two o'clock and daylight. Houston ordered a halt that the men might get a little
rest, as they had been working and marching through mud and water for several days. I did
not get to rest as I was on guard duty.

It was Houston's intention to try to head off the Mexican army at
Lynch's ferry, and he was in such haste that we had no time to prepare meals or to eat
them. On the morning of April 20, as soon as we could see we set out for the ferry.
Immediately after arriving there one of our spies came running in with the information
that Santa Anna was near us. Houston immediately ordered his men to turn and march back to
a small grove of timber, distributing them along the bank for protection. We no sooner got
settled in our positions than the Mexicans opened fire on us with their artillery. There
was more or less skirmishing all day. I never heard of any talk of the Texans building a
bridge for retreat. Houston intended to fight and fight to a finish. After the first
onslaught the Mexicans fell back, and we got our breakfast. When we reached Lynch's ferry
we saw a sail coming up the bayou. Houston ordered a squad of men to see what it was and
capture it. I heard the reports of firing as we continued our march. It was a ferry flat
which Santa Anna had previously captured. It was loaded with flour and supplies, and was
also intended to transport Santa Anna and his army across the bayou. The supplies were
very timely for the Texans. Sherman was in command of the infantry, but with Houston's
approval and permission he called for volunteers, who could obtain horses to attempt the
capture of the Mexican artillery. Houston sent out Burleson's men to support Sherman and
cover his retreat if necessary. The attempt was not successful. Two men were wounded, one
of whom afterwards died.

The next morning, April 21, a council of war was held. Sometime before
noon, Houston passed around among the men gathered at the camp fires and asked if we
wanted to fight. We replied with a shout that we were most anxious to do so. Then Houston
replied, 'Very well, get your dinners and I will lead you into the fight, an if you whip
them every one of you shall be a captain." There had been so many "split
ups" and differences that Houston preferred the opinions of the men themselves,
feeling that before hazarding battle we must find whether they would enter the engagement
with a will. For the men had marched so long without food or rest that perhaps, they might
not be physically prepared. I never heard orders given as to Vince's bridge. I heard that
Deaf Smith had asked permission to cut it down. I never heard that Vince's bridge was
mentioned in any address to the army, or any prominence given to the fact that it had been
destroyed.

After leaving Harrisburg, I saw no wagon transports. We packed all
there was on our backs. After dinner the men were ready for battle. I was in Sherman's
division - left wing of attack - but under my own captain, Wm. Ware. Rush started out with
us, but turned and went with the artillery. When we ran over the ridge we lost sight of
the rest. On beginning the battle, before we got in sight of the Mexicans, they began
firing at us. They were lying down in the grass. We examined the place where many had
been, and found as many as five ends of cartridges where each man lay, so supposed that
each man had fired at us as many as five times before we reached them. Their breastworks
were composed of baggage, saddle bags, and brush, in all about four or five feet high.
There was a gap eight or ten feet wide through which they fired the cannon. I saw Houston
in the midst of the enemy's tents near the first regiment to the right. A Mexican officer
tried to rally his men, but was soon dispatched by a rifle ball and fell from his horse.
Our regiment passed beyond the Mexicans breastworks before we knew it, while our other two
regiments came up in front of them, so then we did them up in short order. I never heard
any halt ordered. We never halted. The battle was won in fifteen or eighteen minutes. The
Mexican Cavalry broke in disorder, while ours was hotly pursuing them. Houston had two
horses killed from under him, and was on his third one before he passed the Mexicans
works. We ran and fought fully two miles.

After the fight was ended Houston gave orders to form in line and march
back to camp, but we paid no attention to him, as we were all shaking hands and rejoicing
over the victory. Houston gave the orders three time and still the men paid no attention
to him. And he turned his horse around and said "men I can gain victories with you,
but damn your manners," and rode on to camp. Joel Robinson and Sylvester brought in
Santa Anna. I was there when he was brought in; was digging the grave to bury our eight
men. They passed by us and halted at our guard lines. The Mexicans prisoners clapped their
hands, and gave other signs of joy, shouting, "Santa Anna, Santa Anna!" I
dropped my tools and followed after them to Houston, who was lying on his cot at the camp
near the bayou. Santa Anna introduced himself and they began to talk. I do not know who
captured Cos, but he was the most frightened man I ever saw. He covered his head with a
blanket. I could see it tremble twenty feet off. The greatest slaughter in the battle
occurred between the breastworks and the lake; here the Mexicans and horses killed made a
bridge across the bayou.

General Wharton tried to get us to cease and grabbed a Mexican and
pulled him up behind him on his horse, saying that was his Mexican, but Jim Curtis shot
the Mexican. The Mexican infantry near the lake would jump in occasionally and would dive
to get away from our shots, but the minute they would raise their heads they were picked
off by our men. Only a few followed the flying Mexicans to Vince's bayou; the Mexicans
finding the bridge burned, tried to cross, but their horses bogged. Only one of those
trying to cross there got away, all the others were shot. When Santa Anna was brought into
camp some called out 'shoot him, hang him!' General Houston ordered the men who made these
threats taken away. Next day after the battle, finding that many Mexicans were hidden in
the marsh grass, some one set fire to the grass and burned or smoked them out. In this way
about forty were captured. One who tried to run was shot. The same day I found a dead
Mexican who had silver in his belt, about ten dollars. The money had slipped out when he
was shot. Orders were given that all money found be brought in to headquarters. I turned
this in. Money so captured was distributed to the soldiers, the amount so distributed
averaging almost $11 per man. Santa Anna's handsomely ornamented saddle was held up and
the men voted that it should be given to General Houston. Other officers saddles were
sold. One brought as high as $300. I certify that the above statement is correct, or as
nearly correct as I can remember." [From the October 1902 Quarterly of the Texas
Historical Association]